Reports earlier in the day said that the government has invoked never-before-used powers under Section 7 of the RBI Act allowing it to issue directions to the central bank governor on matters of public interest.

He said that Verma's room was sealed and incriminating documents were taken away. That is why he was removed at 2 a.m. in the morning. "He was not just removed but the evidence was destroyed. This is the reason for his removal which is illegal," he said.

That the Finance minister’s tweet after having briefed a press conference on his dubious plan to reduce oil prices by Rs 2.50 a litre should have been met by derision was only to be expected given that he had very recently argued that oil prices were not under his control. His sense of smugness over …

"It clearly displays Modi government's duplicity - seeking to shamelessly take credit for a paltry excise duty cut and again prevailing upon oil marketing companies to increase the prices through back door," he said referring to the Centre's announcement on Thursday of a Rs 2.5 per litre cut in petrol and diesel prices.